Hunter Biden’s defense attorney, Abbe Lowell, is strategizing his defense in a Delaware federal court case by raising questions about who filled out the key federal gun form at the center of the trial. The government’s case accuses President Biden’s son of falsely claiming on the form that he was not using or addicted to drugs when he purchased a firearm in October 2018. Lowell suggested that the form may have been altered by employees after the sale, while prosecutors argue that any changes were minor and not relevant to the parts Hunter Biden completed. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika has allowed two versions of the form into evidence, one emailed on October 26, 2018, and the physical version filled out at the gun store with the help of an employee named Gordon Cleveland.
As the trial approaches with jury selection set for June 3, Hunter Biden’s defense team is challenging the prosecution’s claims, contending that employees at the gun store may have tampered with the form after it was filled out by their client. Noreika hinted that the gun store employee, Cleveland, may be called to testify that Hunter Biden completed and signed the form himself. Lowell has raised concerns about potential tampering with the form and indicated that all aspects of the case are subject to further examination. The trial is expected to last until mid-June, with the defense arguing that the case against Hunter Biden is politically motivated.
Despite acknowledging his struggles with substance abuse during the time he purchased the firearm, Hunter Biden’s legal team is fighting to have certain charges dismissed, including federal tax charges in Los Angeles. Noreika ruled that the Special Counsel cannot mention the tax case or other personal issues such as alleged failure to pay child support or a Navy discharge. Jurors will be shown excerpts from Hunter Biden’s memoir, “Beautiful Things,” where he discusses his battles with addiction. The defense has argued that the prosecution caved to political pressure to indict Hunter Biden after a plea agreement fell through last year due to legal complications.
The federal investigation into President Biden’s son had initially appeared close to concluding with a plea deal that would have entailed two years of probation for tax offenses and the dismissal of the gun charge if Hunter Biden stayed out of legal trouble. However, the agreement was thrown out, leading to his indictment. Hunter Biden’s legal team continues to contest the charges, maintaining that the case is politically motivated and vowing to challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution. The upcoming trial will address the key issue of whether Hunter Biden falsified information on the federal gun form and assess the credibility of witnesses, including employees from the gun store where the firearm was purchased.
As Hunter Biden prepares for the trial, he has been vocal about his struggles with addiction and personal challenges, candidly sharing his experiences in his memoir. The defense aims to portray Hunter Biden as a victim of political persecution rather than a criminal, emphasizing his willingness to address his personal issues in public and seek help for his past substance abuse problems. The high-profile case has drawn national attention due to Hunter Biden’s family connections and the timing of the charges, coming amidst political tensions and controversies surrounding the Biden administration. The defense’s strategy relies on undermining the prosecution’s case by highlighting potential discrepancies in the evidence and influencing the perception of the jury through expert witness testimony and legal arguments.
